Virgie Lee Murphy

VIRGIE LEE MURPHY, commonly referred to as "Grammy-over-the-bridge" by many, died on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the age of 90. Born Aug. 7, 1924 in North Little Rock, Ark. to Myrtle Davis Delaney and Virgil Lee Delaney, Virgie married Joseph Carroll Murphy Jr. and the two spent a lifetime working together building family run Arkansas Nurseries. An active member of her North Little Rock community, Virgie was awarded a Life Membership in the GFCW and the Mayor of NLR proclaimed a day in her honor for her service as a charter member and second president of the NLR Women's Club. She also was an active and dedicated member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, where she served many years on the Alter Guild and Needlepoint Guild and was very involved with the Adult Formation class. Virgie was especially proud of helping to complete the needlepoint for many of the church's pew kneelers. She also taught Sunday School and helped with Vacation Bible School. Virgie was extremely social. She was an enthusiastic bridge player and loved her dear bridge group friends, some for over 50 years. She also taught bridge classes at the Shepherd Center of NLR, where she was a founding member and served as president of the board. She stayed active by enjoying water aerobics and country line dancing and she loved gathering her children and grandchildren together to cook for them. She will be fondly remembered for her famous Thanksgiving dressing, her desire to drive to the main post office every afternoon during rush hour traffic, her love of chihuahuas and her sage advice. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, her parents and her brother, Leonard Davis Delaney. Survivors include her children, Linda Norton (George) of Little Rock, Ark. and Joseph Murphy III (Marion) of North Little Rock, Ark.; her grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Austin (Sean and son Henry) of Fort Worth, Texas, Andrew Norton (Barrett and son Tucker) of Little Rock, Ark., Joseph Murphy IV (Adrienne and son Elijah) of Fayetteville, Ark., Frank Lenkerd (Kerrie and children Jessica, Matthew, Brooklyn, Kimberly, and Ryan) of Fayetteville, Ark., John Lenkard of New York City, N.Y. and nephew, Larry Delaney of Whitefish, Mont. The family would like to thank the staff at Presbyterian Village and Arkansas Hospice for their kindness and excellent care. Memorials may be made to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Village and Arkansas Hospice. Virgie's life will be celebrated at a service on Monday, Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church (4106 John F Kennedy Blvd, NLR, AR 72116). Relatives and friends are invited to a reception in the great hall immediately following the service. Online obituary and guestbook at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.